Neptunes 9
Sirens 7
(2-3, 1-1, 5-2, 1-1)

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A great comeback, which enabled Neptunes to win the third session 5-2, turned out to be decisive as Sirens had neither the guile nor the stamina to pull their chestnuts out of the fire. They thus finished on the wrong end of a 9-7 scoreline.

A better conversion rate on extra-man sets, superior speed off the mark and sound goalkeeping from Adrian Cachia were the main factors behind the Balluta Bay team's second victory this season over Sirens.

The St Paul's Bay team had a better lift-off, with their choking press giving their opponents little choice to make an impression on the proceedings. Gradually, however, Neptunes fought back after being 5-3 down three minutes into the third session.

Nicky Lanzon, though scoring only one goal, was a constant thorn in the Sirens side. Two important goals on man-ups from David Camilleri also brought the downfall of Bruno Cofino's team.

Sirens remained wasteful when they had a man extra. Their breaking speed was also below par when compared to that of their opponents. These deficiencies did not help their cause and that coincided with Neptunes' resurgence and better organisation in the latter sessions.

It was all-pitch press from the outset, with both sets of players being allowed little time and space for a clean shot at goal.

Neptunes took the lead with a neat Edward Cachia flick. Paul Privitera's lob levelled the score before Cachia scored his second on a man-up.

Sirens reversed the scoreline in the last 40 seconds through Neil Cassar and Jonathan Valletta on the stroke of first session time.

The stalemate prevailed on open play as neither team seemed inclined to break the press through effective driving. M. Azzopardi resolved a man-up set to level on 3-3 but a shot from seven metres from Privitera regained the lead for Sirens.

Neptunes turned to zone in a bid to operate on the break. But generally their passing left much to be desired, even if Sirens were not flawless in this respect.

With Valletta hanging on two personal faults after two minutes of the second session, Neptunes failed to pressurise the Sirens star into committing a third major foul.

Cutajar converted a man-up before Licari did likewise at the other end for a 5-4 scoreline still in Sirens' favour. The St Paul's Bay team survived a penalty scare as Lanzon was brusquely challenged. But the same player soon equalised before David Camilleri's brace, both from a man-up, gave Neptunes a 7-5 lead. Goals from Valletta and Pisani (penalty) at either end left the Balluta team enjoying an 8-6 advantage at the end of the third session.

The balance prevailed, despite Neptunes' third session comeback. Still it was mainly press with occasional zone cover luring the team in possession for a shot.

If anything, Neptunes kept up a better man-up conversion rate. Valletta converted a penalty but Azzopardi soon made it 9-7 on another man-up. Neptunes' superior staying power prevailed, with Sirens unable to stage a comeback.

In any case, their one on seven scoring rate on man-ups proved to be their downfall. Neptunes' six on 11 was healthier reading.

Neptunes: Ad. Cachia, N. Lanzon (1), D. Pisani, K. Galea, E. Cachia (2), D. Camilleri (2), J. Licari (1), C. Zammit, N. Gouder, M. Azzopardi (2), J. Brownrigg, J. Gravina, M. Pisani (1).

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. Debarro, N. Imbroll, P. Privitera (2), C. Cauchi, J. Valletta (3), J. Borg, D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort, W. Degiorgio, A. Grech, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar (1).

Referees: M. Dalli, V. Vecchio.

Blues find touch in latter sessions

Sliema 11
Marsascala 7
(3-2, 1-3, 4-1, 3-1)

Sliema Burger King atoned for their shock preliminary round defeat at the hands of Marsascala when they beat the south seasiders 11-7 to go in third place on 15 points, in the process relegating their opponents to the bottom place in the first division standings.

It was a match the Blues badly needed to win if they wanted to entertain any hopes of retaining the league crown they won so dramatically in a decider against Sirens last season.

It had not been so rosy for them after they went into a 3-1 lead. Marsascala's comeback, mainly through the opportunism of Clint Mercieca, helped them to take a 5-3 advantage.

However, the irrepressible John Soler took the bull by its horns and his six goals made him the main catalyst behind his team's comfortable victory. Nicky Falzon's hat-trick was not to be dismissed either.

The Blues started cautiously after having gone a goal behind. Soler's brace reversed Mercieca's opening conversion before Clint Debono gave Sliema a 3-1 lead.

Joseph Cremona reduced the deficit late in the first session. The zone cover closed to press at both ends as the possession period drew to a close.

The south seasiders regained their composure as the second quarter got underway. John Xerri De Caro levelled the score before the Blues lost two man-up chances. They paid dearly for those lapses as Mercieca showed what a promising player he is with two well-taken goals.

An angled effort from Nicky Falzon late in the second sessions helped Sliema to pull a goal back and make it 5-4 halfway through.

Still the contest was evenly-poised. Two quick goals from Paris and Falzon helped Sliema regain the lead almost midway through the third quarter.

John Soler's backhand made it 7-5. Marsascala wasted a man-up and another ideal situation to reduce the arrears.

But Galea's late goal on his side's fifth extra-man set at last narrowed the deficit to 7-6, only for Soler to score direct from a free-throw almost on the stroke of third-session time.

Marsascala still retained hopes of saving the game, but they lost an early man-up in the last session. They paid dearly for that miss as Soler netted his fifth on another man-up to open the gap to three goals on 9-6.

Mercieca's lob reduced the deficit. After missing an open chance. Soler again netted to make it 10-7 before Falzon sealed his team's victory in the last seconds.

Sliema: J. Cachia, N. Falzon (3), M. Manara, M. Galea Pace, P. Cachia, J. Soler (6), J. Paris (1), K. Engerer, C. Debono (1), F. Cutajar, K. Schembri, I. Muscat, E. Aquilina.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Fava, T. Galea (1), A. Farrugia, C. Gialanze, J. Xerri De Caro (1), C. Mercieca (4), J. Cremona (1), R. Cutajar, R. Calleja, C. Borg, M. Zammit, D. Ciappara.

Referees: P. Balzan, S. Marchisello.

Division Two Results

Exiles 5 San Giljan 5. Scorers: Exiles - A. Cachia, D. Pace Lupi, S. Grech, S. Borg, K. Lanzon; San Giljan - M. Fava 2, G. Farrugia, M. Lombardi, K. Grima Scott.

Ta' Xbiex 18 Valletta 4. Scorers: Ta' Xbiex - K. Sciortino 4, G. Stellini 4, D. Schembri 3, T. Boyd 3, F. Testa, S. Micallef, E. Pisani, G. Attard; Valletta - G. Zammit 3; D. Degiorgio.

Marsaxlokk 10 Otters 2. Scorers: Marsaxlokk - S. Cachia 3, D. Sullivan 2, C. Bonello 2, C. Jones, D. Cassar, J. Zammit; Otters - K. Mizzi, D. Zammit.

Next Fixtures: Wednesday - Division One 4.30 p.m. Sirens Go Mobile vs Marsascala SC; 5.30 p.m. Neptunes Vodafone vs Sliema Burger King.